Parent & Outreach Services

Welcome

Parent and Outreach Services is the gateway that connects Families to CYS programs. Its mission is to support Readiness and Well-Being of Families by helping to balance military mission requirements and parental responsibilities.

* Baseline programs:

Parent Central Services (formerly Central Enrollment)

Kids at Home

Parents on Site

Kids on Site!

School of Knowledge, Inspiration, Exploration, and Skills (SKIESUnlimited)

CYSitters

Parent Liaison Services

Community Liaison Services

* Not all programs are offered at every garrison. Please check with your local CYS office to verify availability of programs.

Medical Action Plan (MAP) Only needed if a child is diagnosed with allergies, diabetes, asthma/respiratory, or seizures that require any rescue medications. This also includes conditions recommended by Multi-disciplinary Inclusion Action Team (MIAT).

Parent Orientation

Parent Central Services schedules appointments to acquaint parents with their child’s program. These sessions are an important part of the enrollment process and are offered at times convenient to parents. Orientation highlights include:

Facility tour

Orientation of our programs and spaces

Review of rules of conduct and procedures

Opportunity to meet staff, care providers and key volunteers

Complete required forms

Parent participation

Deployment Support Services

Deployment Support Services are established for eligible Army Service Members (e.g., deployed Soldiers, dependents of Army Fallen Warriors, Army Wounded Warriors assigned to a Wounded Warrior Unit, etc.).

Childcare Cost

Childcare cost is based on Total Family Income (TFI). TFI is defined as all earned income including wages, salaries, tips, special duty pay (flight pay), Active Duty demo pay, sea pay), Active Duty save pay, long-term disability benefits, voluntary salary deferrals, retirement or other pension income including SSI paid to the spouse and VA benefits paid to the surviving spouse before deductions for taxes.

Parent fees are determined during the enrollment process prior to enrolling in a regularly scheduled Child Development Center (CDC), Family Child Care Home (FCC), School Age Care (SAC) or Youth Program and annually thereafter.

Payment Options

CYS offers an online pre-registration service through WebTrac. Parent Central Services will help you get started by assigning your initial username and password. When you sign in for the first time, you will be asked to personalize your account. You’ll then have access to all of our online services which include bill payment, tax forms, receipts, class sign-ups and other conveniences. Payments for childcare can also be made at any CYS Child Development Center, School Age Center, and Parent Central Services.

Child Care Wait list

The Installation will establish a Waiting List when the spaces for each child age group are filled and there are no additional spaces to offer. The Waiting List is limited to patrons who are still actively seeking child care.

When a space becomes available, patrons are offered a viable space. A viable space is defined as any opening within the CYS Services delivery system to include Child Development Centers, Family Child Care Homes, School Age Centers, Homes Off-Post and Community Based Programs.

Children transferring to the Installation whose parents have requested care prior to arrival are placed on the Projected Demand Sub-waiting List. This list is maintained by sponsor priority for care and date of request for care. Parents must update their information every 90 days to remain on the list.

The MIAT explores Installation child care and youth supervision options for children and youth with medical diagnoses that reflect life-threatening conditions, functional limitations and diagnosed behavioral/psychological conditions. The MIAT recommends child care and youth placement. It also determines reasonable accommodations and availability of services to support a child/youth’s special needs. “Inclusion” is an attitude and a philosophy that welcomes and supports all children, with the goal of facilitating and maximizing participation in CYS child care, youth supervision and educational programs.

The MIAT is comprised of the Parent(s), CYS Coordinator, Outreach Services Director, APHN, and EFMP Program Manager as chair.

Additional augmentees as identified or recommended.

Parent Participation

Parent Advisory Council

The Parent Advisory Board is chaired by a parent, meets quarterly, and provides an opportunity for parents to meet and discuss ways to enhance Child and Youth Programs. The board, with the advice of the program staff are responsible for developing and overseeing the implementation of the Parent Participation Program.

The Board coordinates the Parent Participation Program with the CYS staff to ensure that parents are involved in CYS planning and evaluation.

The Parent Participation Program is a planned group of activities and projects established by the Parent Board to encourage parents to volunteer in CYS, including special events and activities (such as field trips, holiday events, and special curriculum programs), small group activities, special projects (such as playground improvement, procurement of equipment, and administrative aid). The Parent Participation Program allows for a fee reduction on child care for parent participation.

Parent Education

Parent education offers resources to help parents and staff increase their ability and confidence for raising healthy children. A variety of parental education classes are offered to enhance parenting skills.

Kids On Site! KOS provides short-term hourly child care to parents attending on-post meetings or functions in the same or adjacent building.

KOS supports Army Families through Deployment Support by providing assistance for the Army Chaplain's Strong Bond Program and other special events child care. CYS can provide child care support to Strong Bonds events if additional staff is available.

CYSitters offersformal training for teens from adults who provide short term hourly child care for families in their own homes. The training covers the skills needed to safely and appropriately care for children and includes First Aid and CPR, program activities, and the “business” of babysitting. Upon completion of the training CYSitters may be included in the CYS ’babysitter referral' list/website.

Parents who need babysitters must complete a request form that is available at Parent Central Services. Parents make arrangements and negotiate fees directly with the babysitter for child care services. Stop by or call Parent Central Services for additional information.

Parents on Site offers support services for the operation and management of parent co-ops that exchange babysitting services, infant/toddler playgroups, short-term care in unit settings by Family members in another unit or organization.

Volunteer Childcare in Unit Setting (VCCUS) is an additional volunteer-based childcare program that allows for on-site care during meetings and events organized by military units, Army Community Service (ACS) groups or Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation. Through VCCUS, Parent & Outreach Services will provide training to volunteers from the military unit or organization. The program enables the exchange of free and temporary childcare services during unit sessions when child development center services are not available. Parents and guardians of children in VCCUS must be attending the same function and remain at the site while their child is under volunteer care.

Kids At Home offers non-traditional outreach services to support families with children/youth whose primary care/educational setting is in their own home. The programs offer “imAlone”classes and support for enrolled children (11-15 years) whose parents have determined that they can be home alone during out-of-school hours. Home School Services provides for the use of CYS Services tech labs, multipurpose rooms, homework centers, instructional programs for educational purposes during school hours (when facilities are not in use) by children and youth who are home schooled.

School of Knowledge, Inspiration, Exploration and Skills (SKIESUnlimited) offers a range of out-of-school classes such as music, dance, martial arts, gymnastics, technology, life skills, and SAT prep and athletic experiences. All classes are provided by CYS employees and contract instructors in a variety of settings. All participants in SKIESUnlimited classes will be registered for CYS in the Child Youth Management System (CYMS). Classes are available for each age group with opportunities for advancement from beginners, intermediate and on to advance levels. Parents must remain on site during SKIESUnlimited classes.

PCS'ing and Relocating

Transition of Child Records

Parent Central Services provides Army-wide transition assistance such as Global Data Transfer (GDT) of child records and accepts projected registrations for continued services. The system is designed to streamline the relocation process for military and civilian families. Standard data elements (such as names, birthdates, child health records, etc.) should follow each Family to their new duty assignments and make the local CYS registration procedure faster and easier.

Importing and exporting data for relocating families is part of the regular CYS in-and out-processing protocol.

Frequently Asked Questions

* What services does CYS provide?

Full-day child care

Part-day preschool

Sports

Kids on Site

Seasonal Camps

SKIESUnlimited

Open recreation for teens

Hourly care

Strong Beginnings Pre-K program

Recreational classes

Before/after-school programs

* Not all programs are offered at every garrison. Please check with your local CYS office to verify availability of programs.

2. What can be provided as proof of eligibility?

Any of the following is an acceptable form for proof of eligibility. If the sponsor is the biological parent they may present a birth certificate. In addition, DEERS enrollment, a child’s ID card that proves legal guardianship and passports are acceptable documents.

3. Who should I contact if I have questions or concerns?

You may stop by Parent Central Services for personal assistance or make inquiries by email or phone. A CYS administrative assistant will be happy to help you schedule an appointment at Parent Central Services.

4. Where can I register?

Visit Parent Central Services

5. What do I need to register?

Government ID

Contact information

Two emergency contacts

Immunization Documentation (School Age Care children are not required to provide documentation if they are enrolled in a local public school system where proof of currency of vaccination is required.)

7. Will I get a Wait List number or an indication of how long will it be?

Your number won’t be provided because it’s not an accurate reflection of the time remaining. Every situation is dependent on a variety of factors such as individual priorities, PCS notices and pending renovation projects.

8. How often must I register and why?

Registration must be completed annually. When you complete the annual registration, your child can participate in a wide variety of accredited programs and activities. The Department of Defense requires children's records to be updated annually or as needed for their health, safety, or well-being.

9. When does my child need a sports physical?

Sports physicals are required annually and must be valid through the sports season.They are required for seasonal competitive sports: baseball, basketball, cheerleading, flag football, soccer, track and field, etc., as well as the youth fitness program.

10. How often do I need to complete a health assessment for my child?

The health assessment is required 30 days from the date of registration. The health assessment is due every three years unless there are changes in your child’s medical condition before then.

11. Are immunizations required to register?

Yes. Documentation that children have been fully immunized is required to enroll into Child Development Program. School Age Care children are not required to provide documentation if they are enrolled in a local public school system where proof of currency of vaccination is required.

12. What if my child needs special accommodations?

A special need is any medical condition and/or allergies identified and annotated by a doctor. It is identified through the completion of a health screening tool during registration. Every child will receive a recommended care plan based on the information presented from the Multi-disciplinary Inclusion Action Team.

13. Are there exceptions to fees based on total family income for special circumstances?

Yes. Commanders have the authority to grant hardship waivers and must consider the balance of Non-Appropriated Fund (NAF) income and appropriated fund support as they approve waivers. Approved fees must be within fee categories.

14. Are there discounts for multiple children from the same family?

Installation Commanders may authorize up to 20% reduction of fees for additional children of the same family with the exception of contractor employees in Category 9, who do not receive child care fee assistance.

15. * What is available to me if I am retired?

Sports and SKIESUnlimited classes All other services are deemed Child Care. Retirees are allowed to use services on a space available basis and when there are no other eligible users on the Wait List.

16. What types of programs and activities are offered for middle school students and teens?

Leadership activities

Girls & Guy talk

Sports clubs

How-to projects

Power Hours

Technology

Leisure activities and special events

17.What does the School Support Services Office do?

The School Liaison Officer works in conjunction with the CYS Division and the local school community to address educational issues involving military children. Through partnering with the local and military community, the School Liaison Officer acts as a communication link between the installation and the surrounding school districts.

* Not all programs are offered at every garrison. Please check with your local CYS office to verify availability of programs.